#3: Alum Spotlight — Jeff Graham
10/22/2017
Note: Alum Spotlight is a segment that we will share throughout the season as part of our effort to bring the Zoo family together, and highlight what this team has meant and continues to mean to nearly four decades of players, coaches, families, and fans.
If you are an alum of the Zoodisc program, we want to hear from you. Comment below or email us at umassultimate@gmail.com.
Many thanks to Jeff Graham for providing our inaugural Alum Spotlight!
“Individually, you are always a work in progress.”
Name: Jeff Graham
Hometown: Hillsborough, NJ
Degree from UMass: Sport Management
Current Employment: Reebok — US Brand Operations (10+ years with brand), Boston, MA
Current Place of Residence (who do you live with too): Wayland, MA with my wife Kree Graham (co-founder of LadyZoo. Class of 04), my son Nate Graham (3.5 years old, with a big backhand), and kid #2 due December 23rd
Years with Zoo: 1999–2003 (Capt. 2002–2003)
Other teams: Harvard RedLine Coach: 2004–2007 (sorry, but I moved to Boston so it was easier to coach locally)
Club:
Twisted Metal (Open): 2002–2006 (Nationals Qualifier: ’05 & ‘06)
Boston Ironside (Open): 2007–2010, 2016
The Ghosts (Mixed): 2011–2013
Major League Ultimate — Boston Whitecaps: 2013–2015
Awards/Titles:
ZooDisc: 2001 Chesapeake Open Champs, 2002 High Tide Champs, 2000 and 2003 Sectional Champs
Personal Awards: All Region 2002 & 2003, 2nd in Callahan 2003
The Ghosts: NE Regional Champs 2011–2013
Boston Whitecaps: MLU Champs: 2013 and 2015
Personal Awards: 2014 Eastern Conf. Offensive POY, 2015 Eastern Conf. MVP
Boston Ironside: 2016 Champs
Where did you live when you went to UMass?
1999–2001: SouthWest Pierpont Room 356 with fellow ZooDiscer Mike Wiseman
2001–2003: Northeast Leach — Resident Assistant
Favorite restaurant in Amherst: Bueno y Sano
Favorite place in Amherst:
1. The Campus Pond. The field where I was introduced to ZooDisc during my first week freshman year.
2. SouthWest Horseshoe. The place where Mike Wiseman and I spent hours learning to throw.
What is one of your best memories of playing with Zoo?
Regionals 2003. What a team. What a day. What love from fans, family, opponents. It was the toughest day of ultimate I’ve ever been through on the field and emotionally, but I look back and absolutely love that team — every single player. At full strength I know we were a quarters/semis level team at Nationals. The effort that group put in for 3 years leading to that day was amazing. We put it all out there, endured an unfortunate injury (much love Isaiah), and battled to the end.
What advice would you give your college self now if you could?
Have fun, work hard, listen, lead, and on the ultimate field have the guts to give everything you have.
3 most important qualities of an effective ultimate player.
Hard working — don’t look back and find out the reason you got beat was that the other team was in better shape and/or worked harder than you.
Field Awareness/Intelligence — As a thrower, a receiver and a defender the most effective players understand the open space on the field and the places available to attack. On offense work as a team to expand those areas and throw catchable throws to that space. On defense, shrink those spaces, and work to take them away.
A desire to learn — The best teams work and align on a plan to reach their goals. Individually, you are always a work in progress. Always re-evaluate your game and work on your weaknesses to become a better player.
If you like what we’re doing here please feel free to become a patron and support us at https://www.patreon.com/zoodisc
